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Irene Sankoff Headshot

Irene Sankoff

Irene Sankoff and David Hein are a Canadian married writing team. Their first show, My Mother’s Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding (based on David’s mother’s true story) was the hit of the Toronto Fringe Festival, and then picked up for a commercial run by Mirvish Productions.

BIO

Irene Sankoff and David Hein are a Canadian married writing team. Their first show, My Mother’s Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding (based on David’s mother’s true story) was the hit of the Toronto Fringe Festival, and then picked up for a commercial run by Mirvish Productions. It has now played and won best musical awards in the New York Musical Theatre Festival and across North America, with Sankoff and Hein performing in most productions. Come From Away was developed at the Canadian Music Theatre Project and Goodspeed Musicals’ Festival of New Artists, showcased at the NAMT Festival of New Works and enjoyed a record setting world premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse and Seattle Repertory, followed by Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto and the Gander Community Centre Hockey Rink. Come From Away won three 2017 Dora Mavor Moore Awards, four Helen Hayes Awards, five Outer Critics Circle Awards and three Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical. David and Irene were nominated for Tony® Awards for Best Book and Score and won the 2017 Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk awards for Best Book. Irene and David are proud members of the Dramatists Guild and ASCAP. Immeasurable thanks to all of Molly’s People, to everyone who helped us on this journey and to our extraordinary friends from Away and in Newfoundland for inspiring and trusting us to tell your story.

Photos

Productions

 
[West End, 2021] [Replacement]
Book, Music, Lyrics[Replacement]
 
[US Tour, 2018] [Replacement]
Book, Music, Lyrics[Replacement]

Writing

Book, Music, and Lyrics

Awards and Nominations


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 2017 - Outstanding Book of a Musical

Irene Sankoff, Come From Away

Drama Desk Awards - 2017 - Outstanding Lyrics

Irene Sankoff, Come From Away

Drama Desk Awards - 2017 - Outstanding Music

Irene Sankoff, Come From Away


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2017 - Outstanding Book of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway)

Irene Sankoff, Come From Away

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2017 - Outstanding New Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway)

Irene Sankoff, Come From Away

Tony Awards - 2017 - Best Book of a Musical

Irene Sankoff, Come From Away

Tony Awards - 2017 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Irene Sankoff, Come From Away

Videos

News

Review: COME FROM AWAY at Roxy's Downtown
by Paula Makar - Sep 5, 2026

Come From Away is the musical we need right now. As political tensions mount, we need to remember the kindness shown by our neighbor Canada during a most critical time for our United States. Director Rick Bumgardner tells us the “spine” of this show is the word “Goodwill.” We would do well to remember the lessons of 9/11, as well as the Golden Rule - Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Review: COME FROM AWAY at Theatre Harrisburg
by Andrea Stephenson - Sep 5, 2026

This is a production that will make you laugh and cry, that reminds us of both the worst parts of being human and the best most inspiring parts of being human. Come From Away at Theatre Harrisburg is a show you do not want to miss.
Review: COME FROM AWAY at Marriott Theatre, Lincolnshire IL
by Tina St. Angelo - Sep 4, 2026

Next Friday, the Country will pause to remember, mourn and honor those victims of the attacks of September 11, 2001. The town of Gander, Newfoundland, is called the Rock. During the week that followed, it truly was a rock. The current production at Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire is the emotional but uplifting true story Come From Away by Irene Sankoff and David Hein.
Video: COME FROM AWAY Cast Performs at Amarillo Little Theatre Lobby Concert
by Joshua Wright - Sep 3, 2026

Amarillo Little Theatre shared a preview of a cast performance from its Little Lobby Concert, an exclusive event for Producers' Circle members ahead of the company's COME FROM AWAY run.
Video: COME FROM AWAY at Orlando Shakes
by Joshua Wright - Sep 2, 2026

Orlando Shakes shared a video promoting its production of COME FROM AWAY, the musical based on the true story of stranded travelers welcomed by a Newfoundland town after 9/11.
COME FROM AWAY Opens September 11 At Bell Theater At Bell Works In Holmdel
by Nicole Rosky - Aug 31, 2026

Opening on September 11, 2026, the 25th anniversary of “The Day that Changed America,” Come From Away takes the stage at Bell Theater at Bell Works in a new professional production directed and choreographed by Lisa Stevens (Broadway's Chicago and West End's 9 to 5).
Review: COME FROM AWAY at The Topfer At Zach Theater
by Sabrina Wallace - Aug 27, 2026

ZACH Theatre’s Come From Away is a joyous, almost flawless production powered by a superb ensemble, clever staging, and infectious music. This true story of strangers helping strangers finds humor and hope in tragedy and leaves you with a warm reminder of what people can be.
Video: COME FROM AWAY Boards Syracuse Stage with 'Welcome to the Rock'
by Rachel Stone - Aug 27, 2026

Syracuse Stage shared a video titled 'Welcome to the Rock' ahead of its production of COME FROM AWAY, the musical about a Newfoundland town that sheltered stranded travelers after 9/11.
COME FROM AWAY Cast Announced for WICA Mainstage Production
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 26, 2026

Whidbey Island Center for the Arts announced the cast for its production of COME FROM AWAY, directed by Lani Brockman with musical direction by Sue Riney, featuring 12 local and regional actors.
COME FROM AWAY to Open Syracuse Stage's 26/27 Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 25, 2026

​​​​​​​Syracuse Stage will begin the 26/27 subscription season with “Come From Away,” an inspirational, crowd-pleasing musical about community, connection and simple acts of kindness.
COME FROM AWAY to Play North Shore Music Theatre This Fall
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 25, 2026

The worldwide phenomenon COME FROM AWAY will land on stage at Bill Hanney's North Shore Music Theatre, telling the true story of Gander, Newfoundland's response to September 11.
COME FROM AWAY Will Come to Theatre Tallahassee in September
by Stephi Wild - Aug 24, 2026

Theatre Tallahassee will present “Come From Away,” the Tony Award-winning musical by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, this September as part of its 2026-27 Mainstage season.
Review: COME FROM AWAY at Ovation Theatre
by Edmund Whelan - Aug 22, 2026

Amid the heat and haze of Bakersfield emerges a spine-shivering show of human connection, compassion, and camaraderie. One of the first community theatre productions of Come From Away brings out the best of humanity (and Bakersfield) on stage.
Interview: COME FROM AWAY's Timothy Koh Talks About the Joy of Directing Theatre in Singapore
by Caryl Kristine Guillermo - Aug 25, 2026

Director Timothy Koh talks to us in much depth about his journey as a director and with Pangdemonium, giving hints of what to expect from their final production, and contributing to the future of the Singapore theatre scene.
COME FROM AWAY to Debut at Kansas City Repertory Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 21, 2026

Kansas City Repertory Theatre will present Come From Away, based on the remarkable true story of 7,000 airline passengers from around the world who were grounded in the small Canadian town of Gander, Newfoundland, in the wake of the 9/11 attacks
COME FROM AWAY to Open Avon Players 80th Season
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 20, 2026

Avon Players will open its 80th season with Come From Away, directed by Ryan Moore and running September 11-26, 2026 in Rochester Hills, Michigan.
COME FROM AWAY to Move to De La Salle Theatre After Ottawa Venue Closure
by Rachel Stone - Aug 16, 2026

Suzart Productions will relocate its Ottawa production of COME FROM AWAY to De La Salle Theatre after storm damage forced the closure of Centrepointe's Meridian Theatres.
Interview: COMMUNITY & COMING TOGETHER
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Aug 14, 2026

Maine State Music Theatre concluded its 2026 Peek Behind the Curtain Series on August 12th with a discussion devoted to the theatre’s hit production of COME FROM AWAY.  A capacity crowd assembled at Curtis Memorial Library to listen to three of the production’s stars, Carolyn Anne Miller (Bonnie/Others), Stephane Duret (Kevin J/Ali/Others), and Kolby Kindle (Bob/Others) together with Artistic Director Curt Dale Clark and BWW moderator Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold share their thoughts on the moving phenomenon that is COME FROM AWAY. The conversation focused on the uniqueness of the musical by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, its genesis and journey to becoming a global phenomenon, the staging and ensemble structure of the show, and its lasting messages of kindness, community and coming together.
Photos: COME FROM AWAY is Now Playing at Ivoryton Playhouse
by Stephi Wild - Aug 11, 2026

Come From Away is now playing at Ivoryton Playhouse, continuing performances through September. Learn more about the show and check out photos of the cast here.
Photos: Mariska Hargitay Performs EVERY BRILLIANT THING at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 10, 2026

See photos of Mariska Hargitay performing EVERY BRILLIANT THING at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, where the Law & Order: SVU star opened the company's 2026 New Works Festival with two benefit performances.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many shows has Irene Sankoff written?

Irene Sankoff has written 1 shows including Come From Away (Book, Music, and Lyrics).

What awards has Irene Sankoff been nominated for?

Outstanding Book of a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Come From Away, Outstanding Lyrics (Drama Desk Awards) for Come From Away, Outstanding Music (Drama Desk Awards) for Come From Away, Outstanding Book of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway) (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Come From Away, Outstanding New Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway) (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Come From Away, Best Book of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Come From Away and Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Come From Away.

What awards has Irene Sankoff won?

Irene Sankoff has won the following awards: Outstanding Book of a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for Come From Away, and Outstanding Book of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway) at the Outer Critics Circle Awards, also for Come From Away.

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